Improved cab-axle



@nitrh fates illstient firm SAMUEL S. BURT, O F MA RQUETT'E, MICH I GAN.

I Letters Patent Nb. 70,799, dated November '12, 1867.

IMPROVED GAR-AXLE.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY. CONCERN:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. BURT, of the city and county of Marquette, and State of Michigan, have invented a new and improved Car Axle'; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and 'exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- I v Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention.

Figure 2 is a. top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

In this invention the axle-boxes are fixed to a stout iron yoke, the ends of which pass over the wheels. Each wheel runs on a short axle independently of all the others.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertainsmay be enabled to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe it in detail. A I

In the drawings, A A representthe car-wheels, running on short, stout axles B B, which bear in boxes C C attached to the stout iron yoke D, as shown. The yoke D is cast or wrought in one piece, of the form delineated in the drawings, its central portion, when in position, being nearly on a line with the axis of the pair of wheels A A, with which it is connected. Each yoke thus supports two axles and wheels, one foreach side of the car. A horizontal flange or ledge, d, is formed on each end of the yoke, upon which the frame of the car is supported. The whole instrument, thus constructed, is attached to the truck, and is ready for use. 7

The obvious advantage of this form of axle is that it allows the wheels on opposite sides of the car to revolve independently of each other, facilitating the passage of curves, and diminishing the torsion and strain upon the axles, and consequently their liability to break. Many inventions have been devised to accomplish this object, which has long been regarded as of prime importance, butin every invention hitherto made public the bearings of ,the short axles have been attachedto and supported by the wooden frame of the car or truck, a method of construction which has proved practically worthless, as no wooden frame is strong enough to hold the bearingswith suflicient steadiness and firmness for durability and safety. It is not only necessary that the bearings of each axle should he firmlyheld in position with each other, but also that each pair should be as firmly. held in position with the pair on the opposite side of thecar, since the slightest displacement of either axle-box, by the bending or yielding of its supporting-frame, will throw the wheels out of line with each other, and thus promote the very twisting of the axles and sliding of the wheels which my invention is designed to prevent.

My yoke accomplishes the object in the cheapest and mostdirect manner, holding each set of axle-boxes perfectly in line with each othernnd with the other set, and without the possibility of getting out of line unless in case of the actual fracture of the yoke,-which would'iiever be likely to occur if it were properly made. It is easily made and conveniently handled, and requires no change inthe construction of the ears upon which it is used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as 'new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is The yoke D, in combination with the axle-bones G C, a'rrles BB, and car-wheels A A, substantially as and for the purpose described. I p

SAMUEL S. BURT.

Witnesses:

CHAS. A. PETTIT, JAMES W.M1srnn. 

